MisterPharmacist

10/23/2026

💊 Taking blood pressure medication? There are 2 combinations you need to know about.

Alex here, your Canadian pharmacist 🇨🇦

If you take lisinopril, losartan, ramipril, or valsartan, this is important.

⚠️ 1. NSAID pain relievers

Medications like Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), and diclofenac can increase your risk of kidney injury when combined with ACE inhibitors or ARBs.

The risk is even higher if you’re also taking a diuretic (water pill). This combination is known as the “triple whammy.”

⚠️ 2. Potassium supplements

These blood pressure medications can cause your body to retain potassium.

Adding potassium supplements without medical guidance can increase your risk of dangerously high potassium levels, which can affect your heart rhythm.

And don’t forget to check potassium-containing salt substitutes, too.

✅ The takeaway?

Just because something is available over the counter doesn’t mean it’s safe with your prescriptions.

Don’t stop your prescribed medications on your own. Check with your pharmacist or healthcare provider before adding pain relievers, supplements, or salt substitutes.

📌 SAVE this post so you can refer back to it.

📤 SHARE it with someone taking blood pressure medication.

Follow Alex for practical medication safety tips from a Canadian pharmacist. 🇨🇦

KidneyHealth HeartHealth

10/22/2026

10/21/2026

🚨 RETIN-A IS BEING DISCONTINUED IN CANADA! 🇨🇦

If you’re using Retin-A (tretinoin) for acne or skincare, here’s what you need to know. 👇

Bausch Health has announced the discontinuation of two Retin-A products in Canada:

❌ Retin-A Tretinoin Cream 0.05%
❌ Retin-A Tretinoin Gel 0.025%

But here’s what’s important:

This decision was made for business reasons NOT because of safety, effectiveness, or quality concerns.

📦 Existing inventory is expected to remain available for approximately six months, or until supplies run out.

💡 What does this mean for your skincare routine?

If you’re currently using one of these products, don’t panic! Tretinoin isn’t disappearing entirely.

Other prescription acne treatments remain available, including Retin-A Micro®, Arazlo®, and Cabtreo®.

However, these products are not necessarily direct substitutes, so speak with your healthcare provider about which option is appropriate for your skin.

💬 Are you currently using Retin-A? How do you feel about this news?

📌 Save this post and share it with someone who uses tretinoin!

Source: Bausch Health discontinuation notice. Availability may vary.

10/20/2026

I didn’t leave big-box pharmacy because I stopped loving pharmacy. I left because I wanted to practice it differently.

Hey, I’m Alex 👋 aka Alex Mihaila, R.Ph., MBA | Medication Safety Pharmacist.

I spent years working in big-box pharmacy, where success was often measured by numbers. Prescriptions filled. Volume. Speed. Efficiency.

But somewhere along the way, I felt like we were losing sight of what pharmacy should really be about.

People.

The time to answer one more question.

The opportunity to actually get to know your patients.

The ability to slow down when someone needs a little extra care.

So I decided to build the pharmacy I always wished I could work in.

Small. Nimble. Personal.

A pharmacy where we have the flexibility to do what’s right for our patients, not just what’s fastest.

Where success isn’t measured by how many prescriptions we fill, but by how well we take care of the people who trust us with their health.

I’m still the same pharmacist.

I just finally get to practice pharmacy the way I believe it should be practiced.

Less volume. More value. More time to care.

Welcome to a different kind of pharmacy. 💚

Alex | Alex Mihaila, R.Ph., MBA | Medication Safety Pharmacist

10/20/2026

💊 “I’m not taking any medications.”

But what about the vitamins, herbs, and supplements sitting in your cabinet?

Here’s something a lot of people don’t realize: supplements can affect how your medications work.

Some can make medications less effective. Others can increase side effects or cause unexpected interactions.

And just because something is labeled “natural” doesn’t automatically mean it’s safe for everyone.

Here’s your reminder to tell your doctor or pharmacist about EVERYTHING you’re taking, including supplements, vitamins, and herbal products.

That one conversation could make a big difference.

📌 Save this as a reminder for your next appointment.

↗️ And send it to someone who thinks supplements don’t count as medication.

Natural doesn’t always mean harmless.

10/19/2026

Taking more melatonin because you assume a higher dose will knock you out can backfire. In this short video, you will learn why more is not automatically better, and why melatonin dosing depends on the sleep problem you are trying to solve.

Researchers looking at melatonin dosing point to two different types of sleep issues: trouble falling asleep versus falling asleep fine and then waking up at 2 or 3AM and struggling to stay asleep.

The video shares research-based ranges discussed by the speaker: lower doses around 0.3 to 1 mg may be useful for sleep onset and circadian timing, while moderate doses around 2 to 5 mg may be more helpful for sleep maintenance in some people.

Most importantly, the takeaway is not to keep increasing your dose. Higher doses do not consistently lead to better sleep and can cause unwanted side effects, including next-day drowsiness.

The better question to ask is not what is the strongest melatonin you can take, but what sleep problem you are actually trying to solve.

10/18/2026

Unpopular opinion: You need a PHARMACIST, not just a pharmacy. 💊

We’ve gotten so used to convenience that we’ve forgotten something important.

Your pharmacist is part of your healthcare team.

Not just someone who puts pills in a bottle.

A pharmacist can help you understand your medications, identify potential interactions, answer your questions, and help you make informed decisions about your health.

And having someone who knows you and your medication history? That matters.

This isn’t about the size of the pharmacy. It’s about the relationship you have with the person behind the counter.

You wouldn’t want a different dentist every time you needed dental care.

So why wouldn’t you want a pharmacist you know and trust?

💬 Let me ask you something:

Do you know your pharmacist’s name?

04/25/2026

Unpopular opinion: just because it’s sold online doesn’t mean it’s safe.

Over 350,000 supplements just got recalled.
Not because the ingredients were bad…
But because the packaging could literally put a child at risk of serious injury or dð.

Let that sink in.

These weren’t random, sketchy products.
They were prenatal vitamins. Bariatric supplements. Even a “kids” coffee alternative.
Sold in real stores. Sold online.

And still… something as basic as safe packaging was missed.

Here’s the problem no one wants to say out loud:
You’re being asked to trust products you’ve never seen, from brands you don’t actually know, sourced from places you can’t verify.

And when it comes to supplements?
That’s a risk.

Because supplements aren’t just “wellness.”
They’re potent.
They affect your body.
And in some cases—like iron—too much can be disastrous .

So before you click “add to cart” because of a cute brand, good marketing, or a viral recommendation… ask:

→ Do I know where this comes from?
→ Do I trust how this is made?
→ Would I feel safe giving this to my family?

Because convenience should never come before safety.

Save this as your reminder: not everything sold online deserves your trust.

04/21/2026

Most people think minoxidil was created for hair loss.

It wasn’t.

It was originally used to treat severe high blood pressure…
until patients started growing hair as a side effect.

And not just a little—enough that researchers couldn’t ignore it.

So they didn’t.

They turned the side effect into the product.

Now it’s one of the most widely used treatments for hair loss.

This is one of my favorite reminders that in medicine,
what you don’t expect can end up changing everything.

What’s another drug you’ve always wondered about? 👇